Sep. 03, 2020 UPDATE

Katsura Imperial Villa

- 桂離宮 -
Traveler Friendly
You can apply online, and from 2016 onward they have also same day tours, so joining the tour is easier than it used to be. Also, because they have audio guides in English, French, and Chinese you can also get to know the Katsura Imperial Villa.
Information
Japanese and English
Languages spoken
The guided tour is only in Japanese, but audio guides in English, French, and Chinese are available for free.
3944 23 6.7 1 reviews
Sep. 03, 2020 UPDATE

Katsura Imperial Villa

- 桂離宮 -
Traveler Friendly
You can apply online, and from 2016 onward they have also same day tours, so joining the tour is easier than it used to be. Also, because they have audio guides in English, French, and Chinese you can also get to know the Katsura Imperial Villa.
Information
Japanese and English
Languages spoken
The guided tour is only in Japanese, but audio guides in English, French, and Chinese are available for free.
3944 23 6.7 1 reviews
Story & Recommendation
Katsura Imperial Villa is a masterpiece of Japanese gardening built as a villa for the Imperial Family
The Katsura Imperial Villa is located in Katsura, Kyoto, and it was built around the year 1600, in the beginning of the Edo period, for the Imperial Family. There have been no fires at the villa since its building, so the villa looks almost the same today as it did in 1600. The grounds cover an area of approximately 70,000 square meters, and the area contains a stroll garden, teahouses for tea ceremonies and other buildings. The stroll garden surrounding the pond is a masterpiece that is also famous overseas, and the garden is built in a way that you cannot see everything from one place. The elaborately thought out designs of the teahouses and shoin “drawing rooms” probably made people feel in awe 400 years ago, as they do today. The beautiful Katsura Imperial Villa with its Japanese atmosphere is a place whenever you visit Kyoto, I wish you an enjoyable visit to the Katsura Imperial Villa. If you wish to participate on a tour of the villa, you have to apply in advance, though from 2016 onward same day applications at the Katsura Imperial Villa also became possible.
  • Sharing Kyoto Staff
    Erika's Comment
User Reviews
6.7 Good
experience8.0 access4.0 photogenic8.0
LifeInSakyoku - Finland
Oct. 24, 2018
Details
Open Hours
Please check the official homepage for the times. https://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/about/katsurarikyu.html
Reservations
Apply in person at the Imperial Household Agency Kyoto Office or online beforehand, or make a same day application at the Katsura Imperial Villa. Same day applications start at 11:00 a.m. and are first-come, first-served basis. Look at the Katsura Imperial Villa website for more information: https://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/about/rikyu.html
Closed
Mondays (In case Monday is a public holiday, then the following day), December 28 to January 4, and days when imperial court functions are scheduled.
Price range
Credit cards
Not accepted
・Those under the age 18 cannot participate in the tours ・Up to four participants can apply at one time ・You have to apply yourself, not by proxy ・If you apply the same day, you need to bring your passport or foreign registration card ・You can choose an English guided tour or a Japanese guided tour. If you choose a   Japanese guided tour, a multi-language audio guidance. (English, Chinese, French, Korean, and Spanish) is available free of charge.
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